Compact and the like



Aug. 20, 1940. [RELAN 7 2,212,440

COMPACT AND THE LIKE Filed July 31, 1939 1.5.Irg3aw,

Patented Aug. 20, 1940" UNITED STATES COMPACT AND THE LIKE Ellison S. Irelan, Plainville, Mass, assignor to Evans Case Company, North Attleboro, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts .Application July 31, 1939, Serial No. 287,631

4 Claims.

The invention relates to the construction of receptacles adapted to contain any articles or materials and especially such as are useful for compacts, vanity cases, cigarette cases and the like.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a catch for holding the receptacle closed and a special way of mounting it for convenience of construction, arrangement and operation.

Such devices are frequently ornamented on the outside or made especially smooth and attractive to the user. The present invention in one phase contemplates a lining or inner part. carrying the contents of the receptacle associated with a cover into which the inner part may telescope and closely fit. The parts may be cemented together or otherwise rigidly held. It may thus be possible to keep'on hand ready for assembly as needed various outsides or covers with various ornamentation or colors or decorations any of which may be associated with the linings whether assembled in advance or not.

The invention may be embodied in many forms and without limiting the invention thereto a speciflc form of device is shown in order to clearly disclose the invention. I

In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section through a receptacle. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view at the hinge connecting the top and bottom members and Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary exploded view at the catch.

The receptacle may consist of a top member A and a bottom'member B either or both of which may be cup shaped. As shown the top member A may be made up of a lining l0 which may be cup shaped and have an outwardly turned flange ll portions of which may be coiled as at l2 to form part of a hinge. At the other side the lining l0 may be provided with an opening l3 which may engage the catch to be described. In the bottom of the top lining Ill may be fastened a mirror It by cementing or in any other suitable way. The lining l0 may telescope into a cover members l5 and may be held therein for instance by cement shown diagrammatically at Iii.

As shown the bottom member B may be madebetween the coils I2 a pintle pin 20 may be inserted to complete the hinge. At the other side the lining I! may be provided with an opening 2| and openings 22 and 22a at each side thereof. The lining I! may telescope into a cover member 23 and be held .therein by cement shown as 24.

It will be noted that the opening I3 is in the lining in and does not extendthrough the cover member l5. To engage the opening l3 and hold the device closed is provided at catch 25 shown as integral with an operating finger piece 26. The finger piece extends outwardly through the openings 2| in the lining l1 and an opening 21' in the cover member 23 which registers with the opening 2!. At its inner end the finger piece 25 is provided with a flange 28 which is larger than the opening 2! and so limits the outward movement of the finger piece 26. A leaf spring 29 lies 15 within the lining l1 and more or less closely hugs the wall having a slight bulge 38 which lies against the inner end of the finger piece 26. The ends ofthe springs 29 are slightly ofiset as at 3| and 32 and pass through the openings 22 and 22a. and rest against slightly instruck parts 33 and 3A of the wall of lining IT. This arrangement allows the lining I! to snugly telescope into the cover member 23. The spring 29 thus normally exerts pressure on the finger piece 26 and tends to hold the catch 25 into engagement with the opening it. Pressure on the outer end of the finger piece 26 will flex the spring 29 without releasing its ends 3| and 32 and allow the catch 25 to disengagethe opening I3 to open the receptacle.

When the cover member i5 is telescoped onto the lining it its edge will come into substantial contact with the flange H and close or conceal any crack. which might be formed between the lining iii and the cover member 95. Likewise when the cover member 23 is telescoped onto the lining ll its edge will come into substantial contact with the flange l8 andclose or conceal any crack which might be formed between the lining l1 and the cover member 23, In order to hold the finger piece 26 in assembly the flange I8 is continuous past the opening 2i but the opening 21 is open at its side which engages'the flange l8 so that it can be easilytelescoped into position when the finger piece 26 is assembled as shown in Fig. 4. In the completed condition the spring 29 is securely held in position by'its ends 3! and 32 being in engagement with the offset portions 33 and 34 in which they are held by the snugly fitting telescoping cover member 23 which also conceals them from view and gives a finished pleasing appearance to the device as a whole.

I claim as my invention:

l. A compact or the like comprising a hollow top lining 'and a hollow bottom lining meeting at their edges to form a closed compartment, a hinge connecting together the linings, a catch holding the linings closed, outwardly turned peripheral flanges at the edges of both linings, a cover into which the top lining is telescoped and secured with its flange overlying and contacting the edge of the cover, a cover into which the bottom lining is telescoped and secured with its flange overlying and contacting the edge of the cover, a leaf spring within the inner lining actuating the catch and having its ends passing through openings in the bottom lining and concealed between the bottom lining and its cover, and means opposite the spring passing through the bottom lining and cover for actuating the catch.

2. A compact or the like comprising a hollow top lining and a hollow bottom lining meeting at their edges to form a closed compartment, a hinge at their meeting edges connecting together the linings, outwardly turned peripheral flanges at the edges of both linings throughout their peripheries except at the hinge, a catch holding the linings closed with the edges in contact, a cover into which the top lining is telescoped and secured with its flange overlying and contacting the edge of the cover, a cover into which the bot' 3. A compact or the like comprising a hollow top lining and a hollow bottom lining meeting at their edges to form a closed compartment, a

hinge at the peripheral edges of the linings connecting the linings together, outwardly turned flanges at the edges of both linings throughout their peripheries except at the hinge, a catch opposite the hinge holding the linings closed with the edges in contact, an ornamental cover into which the top lining is telescoped and secured with its flange overlying and contacting the edge of the cover, and an ornamental cover into which the bottom lining is telescoped and secured with its flange overlying and contacting the edge of the cover, the flanges extending outwardly at least to the outer surface of the covers.

4. A compact or the like comprising a hollow top lining and a hollow bottom lining meeting at their edges to form a closed compartment, a hinge connecting together the linings, outwardly turned peripheral flanges at the edges of both linings throughout the periphery except at the hinge, a catch holding the linings closed with the edges in contact, a cover intowhich the top lining is telescoped and secured with its flange overlying and contacting the edge of the cover, a cover into which the bottom lining is telescoped and secured with its flange overlying and contacting the edge of the cover, the flanges extending outwardly at least to the outer surface of the covers, the bottom lining having a notch at its upper edge, and means passing through the notch for actuating the catch.

ELLISON S. IRELAN. 

